An attempt to capture the essence of my thoughts and put them in bearable prose, or worse (as the unimaginative pun indicates). Not too different from my scribbles on paper, only a lot more legible.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Hindi Film Songs: Best of 2007

In continuance of an annual tradition, I am back with the fourth edition of the list of my best Hindi film songs from the year. Thanks for the clamor. It makes the effort worth it.

Reiterating the disclaimers:1. The songs aren't listed in any particular order. I have just listed them in the order in which I came across them.2. I try to listen to each new album that comes out at least once. However, there are simply too many new movies and too many songs to follow. It is possible that some may have been omitted. In particular, I have not followed any of the December releases well since I was on vacation. I might include them next year.3. Some of the movies will be releasing next year (eg. My name is Anthony Gonsalves) but since their songs have released this year, I am including them. Similarly, movies that released in 2007 were covered in the 2006 list if their music was out then (eg. Guru)4. I am going to attempt to limit the number of songs per movie to two. That does not imply that there aren’t any more on the movie’s list that I like. For eg. Saawariya has more than two songs that I enjoy. I follow that rule under most circumstances just to keep the length of the list in check.

A new feature this year has been added on request. Instead of just listing the song, I am also going to attempt to provide a direct link to the song. You can click on it and hear it out. Caution: I have noticed that musicindiaonline tends to be very flaky at times, so if the link doesn’t work, scoot over to other sites, but do listen to the songs.

I am open to suggestions on songs that you think should be on the list but are missing. I am also open to debates on my choices but as is the nature of blogging, one who owns the blog has the final say. Hope you enjoy it.

Song : Chak De IndiaMovie : Chak De IndiaMusic Director : Salim-SuleimanSingers : Marianne D'Cruz, Salim Merchant, Sukhwinder SinghLyricist: Jaideep SahaniWhy is it on the list? : The song that rocked the nation. Its an unconventional song for an unconventional movie sung by an unconventional singer.

Song : Aaja NachleMovie : Aaja NachleMusic Director : Salim-SuleimanSinger : Sunidhi ChauhanLyricist: Piyush MishraWhy is it on the list? : The song got into an ungainly controversy around the use of the word mochi. That aside, it’s a typical Madhuri Dixit composition, if there is such a thing. What was surprising to me was the use of Sunidhi instead of Alka for this song.

Song : Ishq HuaMovie : Aaja NachleMusic Director : Salim-SuleimanSingers : Shreya Ghoshal, Sonu NigamLyricist: Jaideep SahaniWhy is it on the list? : Regulation romantic song with what is fast becoming a very successful combination of singers. Fine breezy composition.

Song : ApneMovie : ApneMusic Director : Himesh ReshammiyaSinger : Sonu NigamLyricist: SameerWhy is it on the list? : Despite their much publicized spat, Himesh-Sonu got together for this song which is excellently composed and rendered. It is also effectively used in the movie.

Song : To Phir AaoMovie : AawarapanMusic Director : PritamSinger : Mustapha ZahidLyricist: Sayeed QuadriWhy is it on the list? : Yet another pakistani singer with strong rendition abilities. The song is beautifully written and sung but sounds so similar to the other Pakistani group Jal. The original composition I believe is by a group named Rox3n.

Song : Bhool BhulaiyyaMovie : Bhool BhulaiyyaMusic Director : PritamSinger : Neeraj SridharLyricist: SameerWhy is it on the list? : Is it possible to not list this song this year? Another one that really caught on.

Song : JaaniyeMovie : Dus KahaniyanMusic Director : Gaurav DasguptaSingers : Sunidhi Chauhan, Aanchal MalhotraLyricist: Virag MishraWhy is it on the list? : This is an odd selection. A sensuous female duet, a throwback to the days of Nadia Hassan, especially with the disco beats. This beat out some other good songs from the movie to make the cut.

Song : Roya ReMovie Name : DhokhaSinger : Shiraz UppalMusic Director : MM KareemLyricist : Sayeed QuadriWhy is it on the list? : Bhatts generally do better than this on music. This is the only song from the movie that registered with me. Nicely written.

Song : Kitni Der TakMovie Name : Delhi HeightsSingers : Rabbi Shergill, Sonu NigamMusic Director : Rabbi ShergillLyricist : Rabbi ShergillWhy is it on the list? : I liked the song enough to actually blog about it during the year. Refreshing composition, very well rendered by Sonu.

Song : Tere BinMovie Name : Delhi HeightsSinger : Rabbi ShergillMusic Director : Rabbi ShergillLyricist : Rabbi ShergillWhy is it on the list? : I am still fully deciphering the Punjabi lyrics and it has been several months. Yet, that hasn’t changed the way I feel about this song.

Song : Chanda ReMovie Name : Eklavya - The Royal GuardSinger : Hamsika IyerMusic Director : Shantanu MoitraLyricist : Swanand KirkireWhy is it on the list? : This gem of a song stood camouflaged in a largely songless movie. This appears very briefly in the background if I remember correctly.

Song : Hey BabyMovie Name : Hey BabySingers : Loy Mendonsa, Neeraj Sridhar, Pervez Quadir, RamanMusic Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-LoyLyricist : SameerWhy is it on the list? : Among SEL’s weakest music scores, this was the only stand out song from the movie.

Song : Sajnaji Vaari VaariMovie Name : Honeymoon Travels Pvt LtdSinger : Sunidhi ChauhanMusic Director : Vishal-ShekharLyricist : Javed AkhtarWhy is it on the list? : Rendered with gusto by Sunidhi, this is one of the better fast numbers of the year.

Song : Yeh Ishq HaiMovie Name : Jab We MetSinger : Shreya GhosalMusic Director : PritamLyricist : Irshad KamilWhy is it on the list? : I was in India the whole of December and if there was one song that I heard over and over again wherever I went, it was this. I liked it the first time I heard it because Shreya has sung it in a manner which is a departure from her usual style. The lyrics are catchy and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this song feature in the annual awards.

Song : Aaoge Jab TumMovie Name : Jab We MetSinger : Ustad Rashid KhanMusic Director : Sandesh ShandilyaLyricist : Irshad KamilWhy is it on the list? : Here’s the googly. Off all the songs I could pick as my second song for the movie, I picked this beautifully sung number. I thought this would have been cut off in the movie, but surprisingly it was left as is. As a footnote, I didn’t escape Mauja Hi Mauja in my India trip either. Overall this soundtrack was fairly replete with good numbers.

Song : Move Your BodyMovie : Johnny GaddarMusic Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-LoySingers : Shankar Mahadevan, Ehsaan Noorani, Loy Mendonsa, Hard KaurLyricist: Des-C, Hard KaurWhy is it on the list? : One of the most well made movies of the year also got a well thought out soundtrack to go with it. Although the songs make the list, it is actually the background pieces that were absolutely brilliantly scripted and used in the movie.

Song : Johnny GaddarMovie Name : Johnny GaddarSingers : Suraj Jagan and Akriti KakkarMusic Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-LoyLyricist : Jaideep SahniWhy is it on the list? : The song, especially the opening riffs build an aura of suspense that blends perfectly into the mood of the film.

Song : Jhoom Barabar JhoomMovie Name : Jhoom Barabar JhoomSingers: Kay Kay, Sukhwinder Singh, Mahalaxmi Iyer, Shankar MahadevanMusic Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-LoyLyricist : GulzarWhy is it on the list? : If you have survived the movie, congratulations to you. The music was much better and much more tolerable and this song is evidence. There are multiple versions of the song for those who want to savor more.

Song : Kiss Of LoveMovie Name : Jhoom Barabar JhoomSingers : Vishal Dadlani, Vasundhara DasMusic Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-LoyLyricist : GulzarWhy is it on the list? : This might be another surprise for most, but I am hooked to this inane number. The tune gets in the head and stays put.

Song : Ram Milaye JodiMovie Name : Just MarriedSinger : Sukhwinder Singh, Sunidhi ChauhanMusic Director : PritamLyricist : GulzarWhy is it on the list? : This movie had an interesting combination of music director and lyricist. The results were mixed. This was probably the best of the lot, a situational song.

Song : Khoya Khoya ChandMovie Name : Khoya Khoya ChandSingers : Swanand Kirkire, Ajay JhingranMusic Director : Shantanu MoitraLyricist : Swanand KirkireWhy is it on the list? : The song has very good orchestration throughout and it ends especially well.

Song : O Re PaakhiMovie Name : Khoya Khoya ChandSinger : Sonu NigamMusic Director : Shantanu MoitraLyricist : Swanand KirkireWhy is it on the list? : A song written for Rafi that only Sonu can execute in modern day. A throwback to the songs of yore, this one is a classic that rides purely on Sonu’s voice.

Song : Its RockingMovie Name : Kya Love Story HaiSinger : Alisha ChinaiMusic Director : PritamLyricist : Shabbir AhmedWhy is it on the list? : An intro with ‘Ude jab jab’ seamlessly blends into the song which is refreshingly composed and sung. In a movie that sank without a trace, this song was the only redeeming factor.

Song : Laaga Chunari Mein DaagMovie Name : Laaga Chunari Mein DaagSingers : Shubha Mudgal, Mita VashishtMusic Director : Shantanu MoitraLyricist : Swanand KirkireWhy is it on the list? : A tour de force by Shubha Mudgal, this is a very interesting take on the Manna Dey classic with commentary by Mita Vashisht.

Song : Ehi thaiyya motiyaMovie Name : Laaga Chunari Mein DaagSinger : Rekha BharadwajMusic Director : Shantanu MoitraLyricist : Swanand KirkireWhy is it on the list? : My second unconventional pick from this movie. A rare thumri by the rarely heard Rekha, this is beautifully composed.

Song : In DinoMovie Name : Life In A MetroSinger : SohamMusic Director : Pritam ChakrabortyLyricist : Sayeed QuadriWhy is it on the list? : Soham’s big break (he had sung unnoticed for movies like Kaal in the past). This follows the soft rock tradition combined with classical singing brought across from across the border. Nicely done.

Song : Kar SalaamMovie Name : Life In A MetroSingers : Pritam Chakraborty, Soham, SuhailMusic Director : Pritam ChakrabortyLyricist : Sayeed QuadriWhy is it on the list? : A song with a lot of energy, be it the singing or the guitar pieces. The tune is reminiscent of Koli numbers in its lilt. The lyrics are good too, and aptly comes in the culmination of the movie.

Song : Tum MileMovie Name : My Name Is Anthony GonsalvesSinger : Kay KayMusic Director : Himesh ReshammiyaLyricist : SameerWhy is it on the list? : The tune sounds fresh and could almost have been an Anu Malik composition in the 90’s.

Song : Jab Bhi CigaretteMovie Name : No SmokingSinger : Adnan SamiMusic Director : Vishal BharadwajLyricist : GulzarWhy is it on the list? : Creates the aura of jazz in a seedy bar. Gulzar had enough practice with Beedi to write authoritatively on a smoker’s mindset.

Song : Phoonk DeMovie Name : No SmokingSinger : Sukhwinder SinghMusic Director : Vishal BharadwajLyricist : GulzarWhy is it on the list? : More on smoking ironically from a movie which says No Smoking. Even the Rekha Bharadwaj version is good, it has a much different treatment.

Song : Main Jahaan RahoonMovie Name : Namaste LondonSinger : Rahat Fateh Ali KhanMusic Director : Himesh ReshammiyaLyricist : Javed AkhtarWhy is it on the list? : Another excellent composition by the much vilified Himesh.

Song : Ajab SiMovie Name : Om Shanti OmSinger : Kay KayMusic Director : Vishal-ShekharLyricist : Javed AkhtarWhy is it on the list? : Delightful melody, though an interesting theory I heard was that Abhijeet singing this song would have turned out better. Yet, very hummable.

Song : Main Agar KahoonMovie Name : Om Shanti OmSinger : Shreya GhosalMusic Director : Vishal-ShekharLyricist : Javed AkhtarWhy is it on the list? : A violin piece that sounds like a tribute to RK, a song set to the beat of waltz and that man Sonu made this my second choice for this movie. Shows my bias towards Rafi I guess. I picked this over ‘Jag Soona’ and the taxing ‘Dard-e-sabko’

Song : Thode BadmashMovie Name : SaawariyaSinger : Shreya GhoshalMusic Director : Sanjay Leela BhansaliLyricist : Nusrat BadrWhy is it on the list? : How do you pick two songs from one of the most comprehensively good soundtracks of the year? I loved the music of this movie with its emphasis on melody. Barring the Kunal Ganjawala tracks who I don’t believe has the range for these songs, all the songs are exquisitely handled. I picked this one because of Shreya’s rendition. Notice how the opening alaap is similar to ‘Dil Cheez Kya Hai’.

Song : Yoon ShabnamiMovie Name : SaawariyaSinger : Parthiv GohilMusic Director : Monty SharmaLyricist : Sandeep NathWhy is it on the list? : There are layers to this song and the tempo changes several times yet never loses hold of you. Beautifully rendered. The climax beats sound remarkably similar to those used in ‘Taal’.

Song : Aakhri AlvidaMovie Name : Shootout At LokhandwalaSinger : StringsMusic Director : StringsLyricist : Anwar MaqsoodWhy is it on the list? : The piano piece is a straight lift-off yet the song is done in typical Strings fashion. It grows on you.

Song : Thaare VaasteMovie Name : Shaka Laka Boom BoomSingers : Shaan, Sunidhi ChauhanMusic Director : Himesh ReshammiyaLyricist : SameerWhy is it on the list? : A movie on the music industry had surprisingly insipid music. This is the only one that stuck in my mind.

Song : MaaMovie Name : Taare Zameen ParSinger : Shankar MahadevanMusic Director : Shankar-Ehsaan-LoyLyricist : Prasoon JoshiWhy is it on the list? : A kid’s perspective written and sung sensitively by adults.

Song : Beete LamheinMovie Name : The TrainSinger : Kay KayMusic Director : MithoonLyricist : Sayeed QadriWhy is it on the list? : Mithoon follows up Anwar from last year with some more trademark beautiful composition. Kay Kay sings it with the right amount of pathos, and the languid pace of the song takes you in.

Song : MausamMovie Name : The TrainSinger : MithoonMusic Director : MithoonLyricist : Sayeed QadriWhy is it on the list? : And he can sing too. I love the use of piano and drums in this song.

Song : SaaiyaanMovie Name : Ta Ra Rum PumSinger : Vishal DadlaniMusic Director : Vishal-ShekarLyricist : Javed AkhtarWhy is it on the list? : Odd choice of singer but he delivers. Movie with big expectations but no music worth speaking of.

Song : Aasmani ChatriMovie Name : The Blue UmbrellaSinger : Upagna PandyaMusic Director : Vishal BharadwajLyricist : GulzarWhy is it on the list? : The composer and lyricist paint a vision of hills and magic and a little blue umbrella with this song.

Song : Kiya KiyaMovie Name : WelcomeSingers : Anand Raj Anand, Shweta PanditMusic Director : Anand Raj AnandLyricist : Anjaan SagariWhy is it on the list? : Doesn’t Anand Raj Anand sound like Sukhwinder at times? One of the hits he has delivered this year.

Song : Naa PuchhoMovie Name : CashSinger : Sunidhi ChauhanMusic Director : Vishal Dadlani-Shekhar RavjianiLyricist : Vishal DadlaniWhy is it on the list? : The voice over by the male voice in parts is a fantastic improvisation.

Song : Ya AliMovie Name : Aap Ka SuroorSingers : Himesh Reshammiya, Sunidhi ChauhanMusic Director : Himesh ReshammiyaLyricist : SameerWhy is it on the list? : Good composition and rendition in this singer centric movie. Also check out Kya Jeena from this movie.

Song : Dard-E-DiscoMovie Name : Om Shanti OmSingers : Sukhwinder SinghMusic Director : Vishal-ShekharLyricist : Javed AkhtarWhy is it on the list? : By public demand

Song : Jaagte RahoMovie Name : Just MarriedSinger : Sonu NigamMusic Director : PritamLyricist : GulzarWhy is it on the list? : On repeated insistence and my soft spot for Gulzar sahab.

I've to admit I've not heard most songs from the list....only the very big blockbusters make their way to singapore; so i guess we end up missing a lot of the smaller (but nicer?) movies & their songs.

And I love "Dard-e-Disco"!! Although the song doesn't make any sense at all; I cant get over the fact that the lyricist has managed to rhyme "Disco" with "San Francisco" and "Chabbis ko" :))

what a task!! Great to see this huge meticulously put list where 90% of the songs I haven't heard. I saw few of my favorites there..so I was relieved. Tere bin (delhi hts)still rocks and aaoge ke jab (jab we met) by ustad rashid khan is really nice.

That's enough to make you ignore SRK, which is very, very hard to do! :D :D Ah, don't mind me. I'm just given to a love of the cheesy and campy.

Great job with the list - you've listed some of year's favourites but I've got to admit, I cannot fathom WHY on Earth Hey Baby makes it to your list. I watched the movie twice - on the way to and from Goa - and I wanted to kill SEL for the soundtrack, esp the title track.

@Extempore: I am overwhelmed with the public support for Dard-e-sabko. I do agree the lyrics are ultra cheesy. I am tilting towards including this in the list if I get a few more requests. Perhaps I got swayed by the video of Hey Baby? :-)

@Dhruv: 'Bol na halke' was one of my initial choices but then Kiss of Love trumped it simply because I had perhaps spent too much time listening to it. I agree with your other choices in TZP as well, but have to confess that I am not aware of any possible connection between Raman Mahadevan and Shankar Mahadevan.

I have been waiting and waiting for this post! Now to go download all of these songs onto my iPod! Thanks for sharing your picks with us, Parth, some are favorites of mine already and others I have yet to listen to. Glad you included something from "Taara Zameen Par". I saw the movie yesterday and I have stars in my eyes now!

I am surprised you picked "Ram Milaye" from Just Married. For me "Jaagte Raho" was the best! Even "Baat Pakki" is better :) ... May be these are situational songs that sound better once you have seen the movie ... the lyrics are just awesome!

@All: Thanks to repeat request and growing demand, I am including Dard-e-sabko, oops disco to this list. Vox populi vox song list.

@SD, Jyothsna: Thanks, hope you find some you enjoy in there.

@Lotus Reads: You are most welcome. The glee makes it worth the effort :-)

@ Abhishek Dhasmana: Thanks yaar. I had completely forgotten about 'Aap ka suroor'. Wonder how I missed that. I'll add 'Ya Ali' to the list. 'Tanhaiyyan' I am not as big a fan as 'Kya Jeena', but I am completely sold on neither. 'Jaagte Raho' is a good tune but is too situational. Still both that and 'Baat Pakki' are excellently written.

@ Siridhar : I did give 'Aggar' a good hearing and was expecting a lot since it was composed by Mithun, but I really didn't find anything extraorinary in that.

@ Nocturne: Thanks for the rousing welcome. I am glad you have something to bother your friends with. I have accomodated your request for the song as well.

Parth-I am an occasional visitor here and was glad to see your list! I have listetned to most of these songs and agree with your choices. I was sur[rised to not see "Woh Ajnabi" from "The Train" and "Ek Din teri Raahon mein" from Naqaab. Those were pretty good too!

@Dhruv: Seems like we just crossed each other's comments. I have addressed the questions on Aggar. 'O Re Piya' is also a good composition, but I think that genre of music is now getting a little repititive. I need something newer and better to excite me.

@Ruch: Thanks for stopping by and commenting on the blog. Woh Ajnabi was kept out by my two song policy and the song from Naqaab while good doesn't hold you too long.

:) ok I will make one more shameless, pesky pitch (final I promise) for Jaagte Raho as my tribute to Gulzar Sahib :) I hope you won't mind.

I think Jaagte Raho is one of the best first-night songs ever because it is grounded in reality rather than regular love-passion treatment! Especially in the Indian context of arranged marriages. Sample this ;)

Spot on. Everytime I thought you had missed a song (I'm too impatient to read the list BEFORE making quick judgements!) it was there as soon as I scrolled down. My iPod and I are currently addicted to 'Yeh Ishq Hai' and 'In Dino' on a loop......

About Me

Father. Writer. Quizzer. Movie geek. Software guy. Music lover. Cricket follower. Dessert consumer.... You get the drift. The whole is the sum of all Parths.
Author of 'r2i dreams'. Join the conversation at https://www.facebook.com/r2idreams